Mass student withdrawal fails at PNG's university

A BID for a mass withdrawal by students at the University of Natural Resources and Environment yesterday failed when the administration demanded individual withdrawals.

The administration block at the Vudal Campus, in East New Britain, was packed at 10am with students, administration staff, police and members of the community.

However, the mass withdrawal planned by the students did not eventuate.

Acting Registrar Gomoga Boga and head of department Peter Navus, who were addressing the students in the absence of acting vice-chancellor Dr Samson Laup, told the students to reconsider their stand on the mass withdrawal and withdraw individually.

The students refused to withdraw individually. Speaking on behalf of the students, final-year student Jeremiah Sokaim said they had agreed to do a mass withdrawal only when their tickets and refunds were ready, which the university did not meet.

He said the protest had taken place since they presented a petition to Laup on March 13.

Sokaim said the sit-in protest had been peaceful but the administration failed to appreciate it by not addressing their two main issues – lack of Student Representative Council and Block Mode Teaching.

“We are harmless, we just want these two main issues resolved fully,” he said.

“We are not criminals, there is no need for police to be on campus over these issues.”